The Hon. Sophie Cotsis MP is the State Member for Canterbury, Minister for Industrial Relations, and Minister for Work Health and Safety. Sophie Cotsis was born at Canterbury Hospital and attended Canterbury South Public, Kingsgrove Public and Kingsgrove High Schools. Sophie graduated from Macquarie University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts and the University of Technology, Sydney in 2001 with a Master of Legal Studies. Sophie has a range of employment experience in both the public and private sectors, including working at Sydney Airport while a student at university.

Before entering Parliament, Sophie held a number of roles in the private and public sectors, including working as a hospitality worker at Sydney Airport, with the NSW Labor Council and the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union. 

Sophie has been an active part of the many diverse multicultural communities that are found throughout NSW for many years and has a proud history of being involved in many community campaigns and causes.

Sophie first entered NSW Parliament as a Member of the Legislative Council in September 2010, and has been a member of the Shadow Cabinet since 2011. She has played key roles in the establishment of the Inquiry into Affordable, Social and Public Housing and the Inquiry into Elder Abuse.

Sophie was elected as the Member for Canterbury in 2016. 

Since entering Parliament, Sophie was the Opposition Spokesperson for Industrial Relations for over three years – from 2011 to 12, and then from 2021 till her appointment as Minister for Industrial Relations. She was also the Opposition Spokesperson for Work Health and Safety until her appointment as the Minister for the portfolio.  

In Opposition, Sophie secured two reviews in SafeWork NSW as well sought key changes to dust diseases legislation.    

As a Senior Minister of the Minns NSW Government, Sophie continues to focus on workers across NSW, ensuring working conditions and safety measures at workplaces are protect workers.